Tube Storage

I have about a dozen to 15 extra tubes that are in there individual boxes and then on top of that in another bigger box.Does anyone know where there are storage boxes for vacuum tubes. One that can store those big output tubes. I seen some on the web but nothing that I liked...from cardboard to cheap plastic. Matter of fact the heavy duty cardboard looked better than the plastic.There was a nice container on TUBE DEPOT that held 18-20tubes with foam cushioning @$54.95 plus shipping but I wanted something a bit cheaper.

Thanks

Last edited by bluemeanies on Thu Mar 10, 2016 4:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

I've always wanted a "vacuum tube caddy". You can search Ebay as there are several examples that may fit your needs or give you ideas. If you can find the right foam that is removable in sections you could probably roll your own. I think Skizo here on the forum showed us a while back some pictures of his solution with removable, sectioned foam. But I need to do something as well as my tube collection is just thrown in a box.

bluemeanies wrote:I have about a dozen to 15 extra tubes that are in there individual boxes and then on top of that in another bigger box.Anal as I am at times this bothers me.Does anyone know where there are storage boxes for vacuum tubes. One that can store those big output tubes. I seen some on the web but nothing that I liked...from cardboard to cheap plastic. Matter of fact the heavy duty cardboard looked better than the plastic.There was a nice container on TUBE DEPOT that held 18-20tubes with foam cushioning @$54.95 plus shipping but I wanted something a bit cheaper.

Thanks

Any box or bag will do , and storage in dry hydrogen-free atmosphere. A note on the outside of the box/bag about it's contents will spare the tubesfrom repeated searches.

I use those large Tupperware-like tubs (L12"xW6"xD4") with sealing lids and segregate the tube-types by box. They come on sale at our local hardware store for a buck or two every now and then and are stackable. You can put about a dozen boxed KT-88/6550 sized tubes in just one of them and they are just transparent enough you can see what type tubes you've got in each box. I don't know if the sealed lids keep out hydrogen, though. Suppose a little bag of desiccant in each would be helpful to keep airborne moisture to a minimum.

deepee99 wrote:I use those large Tupperware-like tubs (L12"xW6"xD4") with sealing lids and segregate the tube-types by box. They come on sale at our local hardware store for a buck or two every now and then and are stackable. You can put about a dozen boxed KT-88/6550 sized tubes in just one of them and they are just transparent enough you can see what type tubes you've got in each box. I don't know if the sealed lids keep out hydrogen, though. Suppose a little bag of desiccant in each would be helpful to keep airborne moisture to a minimum.

Nope, plastic boxed does not keep hydrogen out, has nothing to do with lids.Make sure no hydrogen in the room ( battery charging for instance ). Hydriogenmight, when exposed for longer periods, creep into tubes. Just like helium but thatis rare. And we are talking about years of exposure ...

Peterh,Guess I missed the long-term part. I was just referring to storage for the average (maybe every year) tube-roller.No, obviously you wouldn't want to keep your tubes near a charging battery. I don't want an active battery-charger inside the house, for that matter, tubes or no, although I guess the LiOh batts in an iPhone kick out a bit of nastiness.I would think that ambient moisture would be of more immediate concern. The exposed metals in a tube are susceptible to oxidation, sulfidation and God knows what else. I'd like, out of idle curiosity, know the physics of the threat pure hydrogen poses. A charging battery emits H2S04, correct me if I'm wrong. I'd be more worried about the sulphur.

deepee99 wrote:Peterh,Guess I missed the long-term part. I was just referring to storage for the average (maybe every year) tube-roller.No, obviously you wouldn't want to keep your tubes near a charging battery. I don't want an active battery-charger inside the house, for that matter, tubes or no, although I guess the LiOh batts in an iPhone kick out a bit of nastiness.I would think that ambient moisture would be of more immediate concern. The exposed metals in a tube are susceptible to oxidation, sulfidation and God knows what else. I'd like, out of idle curiosity, know the physics of the threat pure hydrogen poses. A charging battery emits H2S04, correct me if I'm wrong. I'd be more worried about the sulphur.

Charging a lead-acid battery emits hydrogen and oxygen. If overcharging some h2so4 willbe carried with the gases, this is commonly seen on top of lead-acid batteries andwill cause harmful effects on battery poles.

Yes moisture will affect pins and metal parts in a bad way. Corrosion under aplate-cap or around any connections that cross the glass might harm the glass andcause leakage, thus a dry environment is good. This will also save the carton boxes.

octal tubes ( or anything that is soldered) will affect any remnants of resin, also causing corrosion.

But again, most of these effects will be damaging in the long-term.

Oh, i forgot, the effect of hydrogen ( and helium ) :it's small molecules, small enough to penetrate glass and especially the spacesbetween leads and glass. Helium is smallest, hydrogen next. Filling the tube with even small amounts of helium may cause flash-over since a portion of the space will be hydrogen ions ( atoms stripped of electrons), they will be attracted by the cathode and slowly hammer it's surface so to speak. In the worstcase they will even cause flash-over, which often is deadly ( for tubes).

Last edited by peterh on Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:25 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : hydrogen effects)